Jasprit Bumrah returns to nets, troubles Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
What's the story
Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, made his much-anticipated return to the nets on Friday. The session was held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi ahead of India's three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The team had a full house for their second training session with Duleep Trophy winners Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi rejoining after missing Friday's practice.
Comeback
Bumrah's return sparks enthusiasm in Indian camp
Bumrah's return was highly anticipated as he had been out since July.
His presence brought a new energy to the team during practice.
As per PTI, newly appointed fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh ran the first 30 minutes of the session with great enthusiasm, making players do direct-hit drills and high-catching practice despite slightly damp conditions on the ground.
Training
Bumrah bowls at full tilt for 45 minutes
Bumrah, along with his fellow pacers Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, and Yash Thakur (replacing injured Harshit Rana), marked out their run-up.
The sight of a fit-again Bumrah warming up after a long rehabilitation was like watching an engine being reassembled for the first time.
He bowled at full tilt for 45 minutes without flinching once.
Showdown
First-ever net encounter between Sooryavanshi and Bumrah
When Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson faced the pacers, it marked the first time Bumrah bowled to Sooryavanshi in India nets.
The two had previously met in the IPL, where a then-15-year-old Sooryavanshi hit a six off Bumrah.
But this time around, Bumrah was in no mood to let India's top order off lightly.
His first ball was a yorker aimed at Sooryavanshi's boots but drifted wide of leg stump without any contact made.
Strategy
How did the 1st-ever net battle go?
Bumrah kept coming hard at Sooryavanshi, who looked comfortable enough against other pacers but couldn't find his rhythm.
The second delivery from Bumrah was a length ball that shaped away and beat Sooryavanshi all ends up.
The third was a toe-crusher aimed square at the blockhole; this time Sooryavanshi got his bat down in time to keep it out.
Wicket
'Celebrappeal' from the returning pacer
Bumrah then turned his attention to roughing up Samson with sharp yorkers and short balls aimed at the hip of the returning wicketkeeper-batter.
He eventually induced an edge from Sooryavanshi that would have been a straightforward take for any wicketkeeper.
Bumrah broke into something between a celebration and an appeal: a celebrappeal, showing he was back in form after his long injury layoff.